Michio Nishizawa

Michio Nishizawa (西澤 道夫; September 1, 1921 – December 18, 1977) was a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player who excelled as both a pitcher and a position player. He debuted with Nagoya in 1936 at the age of 15, the youngest player ever in the history of professional yakyu. Achieving early fame as a pitcher, he developed into a twenty-game winner by 1939.

Nishizawa's most memorable pitching feats occurred in 1942. On May 24 of that year, he pitched twenty-eight complete innings, totalling 311 pitches, in a 4-4 tie against the Taiyō Baseball Club at Korakuen Stadium. Later that year, he tossed his first and only no-hitter, against the Hankyu Baseball Club. He compiled a career earned run average of 2.23, but the heavy workload combined with injuries sustained during two years of service in World War II forced him to switch positions, first to first base and later the outfield. He did not pitch again after 1947, though his playing career continued through 1958.

Nishizawa spent most of his career with the Chunichi Dragons franchise and became one of Japan's most beloved athletes. His number 15 is one of only two jersey numbers retired by the team.